Although you can set up Netscape to clear any changes to the preferences when the browser is closed, many libraries would like to prevent patrons from having any access to the preferences menu.  This prevents patrons from changing preferences like font colors or proxy settings that would might confuse the next person using the browser.  Blocking access to the preferences menu is easy to do.  Just follow these instructions:

STEP 1
Open up Windows Explorer and browse to the main Netscape directory where Netscape was installed.  Typically, you will find it here:
C:\Program Files\Netscape

STEP 2
In that directory, browse to the subdirectory:
\Communicator\Program\

STEP 3
Find the file titled "prefui32.dll".  This file controls the Preferences panel that you can access from the menu bar selecting Edit - Preferences.  Highlight and right-click on that file. Select the option "Rename".  

STEP 4
Rename the file to something like "prefui32.dlx". 

STEP 5
Start Netscape and try to access the Preferences panel through Edit - Preferences.  Although the option for Preferences still appears in the Edit menu, the Preferences panel should not open up.

If you ever need to get back into the Preferences to make changes, simply follow the steps and rename the file back to "prefui32.dll".  

Written by Andrew Mutch.
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Last Updated March 30, 2001.
This page was created on March 30, 2001.